TNP editor regrets front page headline deemed insulting

Singapore’s The New Paper (TNP) editor, Dominic Nathan said it was regrettable that the front-page headline of “Welcome to Malaysia Where.... Death is Cheap and Staying Alive Costly” was considered as insulting, according to The Straits Times Singapore.

"It was not our intent. We wanted to draw our readers' attention to the threat of gun violence in Malaysia,” he said, adding that what was reported was also “covered extensively in the Malaysian media”.

On July 31st, TNP published an article which stated that it only took $2,000 (RM5,000) to hire a hitman.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry also rebuked TNP and expressed displeasure with the headline.

The ministry’s director of public affairs, Teo Lay Cheng, said in a letter to the newspaper that the "sensational headline was unbecoming and irresponsible".

“Singapore newspapers should report on our neighbours in a professional and objective manner. TNP failed to show judgment in how it presented the story,” wrote Teo.

TNP has since taken down the article from its website as well as its Facebook page.

Recently Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said in a statement late on Friday that the headline was mischievous and had conveyed the wrong impression about the security situation in Malaysia.

"We call on The New Paper not to sensationalise any item that could have detrimental effects on any party," said Anifah.